• ESPN and Uninterrupted, the digital media company founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, will debut an original series, More Than An Athlete, Nov. 20, exclusively on ESPN+. The eight-episode series follows James’ journey from basketball prodigy to global sports icon, businessman and philanthropist via the bonds of friendship and partnership among four men over more than two decades: James, Carter, Randy Mims and Rich Paul.

• The NFL and Mexico's President-Elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed that the third game of the existing agreement signed in 2016 will be played in 2019 at Estadio Azteca. The date and time of the game will be determined in conjunction with the release of the 2019 NFL schedule next spring

• NBC Sports and the Premier League are partnering to present their second Premier League Mornings Live, scheduled to take place in New York on Saturday, Dec. 8. The event will include a turf pitch, the Premier League trophy, club mascots and special guests. The initial fan fest in September was attended by more than 2,000 on a rooftop overlooking the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

• Between now and Nov. 19, every use of #SaluteToService on Twitter will generate a $5 donation, up to $5 million, to the NFL’s military non-profit partners – including the Pat Tillman Foundation, TAPS, USO, Wounded Warrior Project and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

October 22, 2018: Paul Rabil, an icon in the sport of lacrosse, is at the forefront of a new league, Premiere Lacrosse League, scheduled to begin play in June, with media partner NBC Sports and with backers that include Creative Artists Agency and investment firms The Raine Group, The Chernin Group and Blum Capital.

According to Paul’s brother, Mike Rabil, a businessman and investor who is the league’s co-founder, PLL will provide players with full-time wages, equity in PLL and benefits — “becoming the first major North American professional team sports league that offers equity to the players.”

With a scheduled start of June 1, all leagues games in its planned 14-week season will be presented live across NBC Sports Group’s broadcast, cable, digital, and direct-to-consumer platforms.

“We are excited to partner with one of the world’s greatest lacrosse players, Paul Rabil, and his brother Mike on this innovative and revolutionary new league,” Jon Miller, president, programming for NBC Sports, said via the network.

The arrival of PLL coincides with a major overhaul at 18-year-old Major League Lacrosse, which is in the process of rebranding itself and enhancing its marketing and activation platforms.

“Along with the significant modifications and improvements that MLL has made to the league this year, we knew it was essential to refresh our brand image,” commissioner Alexander Brown said via MLL.

Key among the changes was a 51% increase in the salary cap.

“After speaking with players, sponsors and fans throughout last season, we are refocusing our brand to align with our consumer.," said Brown.

Boston-headquartered MLL’s non-endemic sponsors currently include Coca-Cola, Powerade, adidas, New Balance and ’47 headwear. This past season it aired games on CBS Sports platforms.

PLL has not as yet named marketing partners.

It also comes as various organizations in the sport are seeking to expand their audience, marketing opportunities and position regarding potential inclusion in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Lacrosse is among the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. but is still at a niche level.

Lacrosse participation on organized teams topped a record 826,000, according to the most recent numbers from U.S. Lacrosse, the national body for the sport in the U.S. In addition, the number of youth players has topped 450,000 for the first time.

“Lacrosse continues to be the fastest-growing team sport at the high school and collegiate levels,” according to U.S. Lacrosse. “Over the last five years, the number of schools sponsoring lacrosse at the high school level has risen 27%, and the number of NCAA schools sponsoring lacrosse has grown 33%.

However, reaching a mainstream audience and reaching a global stage at the Olympics, has not yet happened.

Field lacrosse was a medal sport in the 1904 and the 1908 Summer Olympics. In the 1928, 1932, and the 1948 Summer Olympics, lacrosse was a demonstration sport.

Efforts were made to include lacrosse as an exhibition sport in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, but failed because the International Olympic Committee felt the game did not have enough global involvement.

Last week, leaders of nine national men’s and women’s lacrosse organizations met “to share organizational priorities, strengthen relationships and expand collaboration on common objectives.. They include MLL, National League Lacrosse, the United Women’s Lacrosse League, the United Women’s League and both the Intercollegiate Women’s and Men’s Coaches Association.

According to U.S. Lacrosse, those in attendance “agreed to increase cooperation on several shared priorities, including collaborative efforts to introduce the sport to more diverse communities, build the pool of youth coaches and officials, address cultural concerns related to alcohol and drug use in the sport,and support the goal of lacrosse inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games.”

Premier Lacrosse League said it would “deliver what the lacrosse community has been seeking: a true home for the sport with the best players, a strong business model, significant financial support, national media coverage through an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group and a unique touring structure that will better serve players and fans.”

According to Paul Rabil, “We’re building the professional sports league that lacrosse deserves. The best players in the world will be showcased like never before, thanks to a unique touring model, a robust media-rights partnership and player content strategy.

“Additionally, our players will be owners in the PLL, contributing to the build, competition, and ultimate success of the league. This is a product that aligns a league and the players like never before, serving a passionate fan base that deserves access to the sport nationwide, at state-of-the-art venues, and on screens everywhere.”

MLL said it has distributed RFPs to a “select group of agencies” as part of its plan to undertake a “comprehensive rebranding initiative.”

The effort would include a revamping of the MLL logo, Web site, branding on all marketing and communications materials and all league branded apparel and merchandise.

Once an agency has been signed, the project is “expected to take several months, but will be released before the 2019 MLL season.”

The changes will build on those already unveiled by MLL, including an increase in the salary cap, an expansion of the game schedule, adding a player to the game day active roster and moving the start of the season after Memorial Day, which will now begin on May 31, 2019.

"The best players in the world will be showcased like never before, thanks to a unique touring model, a robust media-rights partnership and player content strategy."

The inaugural PLL season is scheduled to begin June 1.

The 14-week season will have stops in 12 major-market cities across the country, including ten regular-season weekends, one all-star weekend and two playoff weekends, according to PLL.

The championship weekend is scheduled for Sept. 21.

NBC Sports will air 17 games on NBC Sports Network and two on NBC, all of which will also be streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app.